JP3703555B2 - Portable information device and its charging device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable information device such as a mobile phone, a notebook personal computer, a PDA, and a VTR camera and a charging device thereof, and more particularly to a system configuration for making it possible to easily set time information of a portable information device body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an information apparatus such as a personal computer, time information such as date and time is given to various data so that management can be performed while judging whether the data is new or old, as seen in OS file management. For the same reason, the above portable information device having a clock function can also manage data by adding time information to the data, and when the main battery (battery) serving as the power source of the device is replaced. In addition to the main battery, a backup battery for SRAM or other semiconductor memory, an auxiliary battery for the clock, etc. are provided separately from the main battery so that the data retention and timing operation can be continued even when the power supply voltage of the main battery drops below the operating voltage. It has become common to use.
[0003]
In recent portable information devices, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device (hereinafter referred to as “nonvolatile memory”) that does not require a backup battery such as a FLASH memory or FRAM is used instead of a semiconductor memory that requires a backup battery. In many cases, however, it was necessary to use an auxiliary battery for the clock only in order to continue the timing operation. In general, the smaller the outer shape of a portable information device, the better the portability. However, there is not enough room for installing internal components, and there has been a demand for eliminating an auxiliary battery if possible.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, practically, the auxiliary battery could not be eliminated for the following reasons. That is, if the auxiliary battery is lost in the portable information device having the clock function as described above, the power supply voltage is lowered from the operating voltage every time the main battery or the auxiliary battery is replaced or each battery is overdischarged. In some cases, the clock operation stops and the time information is distorted. Therefore, the work of resetting the time information on the information device main body increases every time the power supply voltage is recovered by replacing each battery. . Generally, the portable device itself has a compact outer shape, so there is no dedicated clock setting switch. To perform this setting operation, a switch shared with other functions is used. It must be used, and it is very incomprehensible and has to be repeated repeatedly, which is inconvenient for the user.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention solves these problems, and in a portable information device having a clock function, every time the main battery serving as the power source of the main body is replaced even if the auxiliary battery for continuing the clock operation is eliminated, It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information device and its charging device that do not require resetting of time information.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, a portable information device according to claim 1 has a portable information device main body having a clock function, and a secondary battery that is separable from the information device main body and serves as a power source thereof. In a portable information device having a power supply unit and a charger for charging the power supply unit provided separately from the information device main body, the charger has a clock unit capable of setting time, The time information of the timepiece is transmitted to the power supply when charging the power supply with the charger, and the time information updated by the power supply when the power supply is attached to the information device main body is After the transmission to the information apparatus main body, the time update is continued in the information apparatus main body.
The portable information device according to claim 2 is provided separately from the portable information device main body having a power supply unit having a rechargeable secondary battery and a clock function, and the information device main body. In a portable information device having a charger for charging a power supply unit, the charger has a clock unit capable of setting time, and when charging the power supply unit of the information device body with the charger, After the secondary battery is charged to a voltage usable by the power supply unit of the main body, data including time information of the clock unit is transmitted to the information device main body, and then the time update is continued in the information device main body. It is characterized by that.
The portable information device according to claim 3 is the portable information device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information device main body has a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, and stores data such as usage status and time. It is characterized by that.
The charger according to claim 4 is provided separately from the portable information device for charging the power supply unit of the portable information device having a power supply unit having a rechargeable secondary battery and a clock function. The charger has a clock unit capable of setting a time, and when the power supply unit is charged, the secondary battery is charged to a voltage usable by the power supply unit of the main body . For serial communication or wireless communication for allowing time update to be continued in the information device main body after data including time information of the clock unit is transmitted to the portable information device directly or via the power supply unit later It has the circuit of this.
[0007]
According to the configuration of the portable information device and the charging device thereof described in each claim of the present invention, the accurate time information is reset when the power supply voltage is such that the information device main body can operate. A clock battery for continuing the clock operation of the apparatus main body is not necessary, and it is not necessary to reset time information on the main body.
[0008]
Embodiment
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings to simplify the description.
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration example of a portable information device according to the present invention. The configuration is a portable information device (hereinafter abbreviated as “main body”) 1 having a clock function, and a power source that is separable from the main body 1 and serves as its power source The unit 3 and the main body 1 are provided separately from the charger 2 for charging the power source unit 3.
[0009]
Each part will be described in more detail. The main body 1 is supplied with power from the control circuit portion 1a having a circuit for controlling the operation and a circuit for receiving time information, which will be described later, and the like, and the power supply portion 3, and supplies the power supply voltage into the main body 1. Depending on the signal from the power supply control unit 1b for detecting the voltage state, the memory unit 1c including a non-volatile memory for storing various setting states of the control circuit unit 1b, and the signal from the control circuit unit 1a And a display unit 1d for displaying information such as an operation state and time. The charger 2 includes a charging control unit 2b for controlling the charging operation of the power source unit 3, a clock unit 2a for performing a clock function and setting work, and the like from the clock unit 2a and the charging control unit 2b. It comprises a display unit 2c for displaying time, charge state, etc. according to the signal. Further, the power supply unit 3 receives time information from the secondary battery unit 3a composed of a plurality of nickel metal hydride batteries and the clock control unit 2a of the charger 2 while being supplied with the power supply voltage from the secondary battery unit 3a. It is comprised from the time measuring part 3b which continues.
[0010]
With such a configuration, first, the power supply unit 3 is installed at a predetermined location of the charger 2, and the secondary battery unit 3a is charged by the control of the charge control unit 2b via the plurality of wires L4. After the secondary battery unit 3a is charged more than the operable voltage of the timepiece unit 3b, the time data such as the current time of the timepiece unit 2a and the state data such as the charging state are transferred to the timekeeping unit 3b by serial communication via the wiring L3. Transmit at least once and continue the timing operation in the timing unit 3b. After that, when the power supply unit 3 is detached from the charger 2 and attached to the main body 1, the power supply voltage is supplied to the power supply control unit 1b via the wiring L2, so that the operation of the main body 1 becomes possible and the timing unit 3b The updated time data such as the current time and data such as the charging state are transmitted to the receiving circuit of the control circuit unit 1a by serial communication via the wiring L1, and the control circuit unit 1a continues the clock operation based on the time information. Or setting according to the state of charge, and recording the state or the like in the memory unit 1c as needed.
[0011]
On the other hand, when the main body 1 is used or the secondary battery part 3a self-discharges, the voltage of the secondary battery part 3a falls below the operating voltage range of the main body 1 or the power supply part 3 is removed from the main body 1. Sometimes, although the data in the memory unit 1c continues to be held, the clock operation stops.
By such an operation, after the power supply unit 3 having an operable voltage is attached to the main body 1, the clock information accurately set in the charging unit 2 without resetting the time information in the main body 1 each time. Is transmitted to the control circuit unit 1a so that it can be used at any time, and even if there is no backup battery, data such as usage status and time are written to the memory unit 1c according to the function of each portable device. Data can be saved. This eliminates the need for a backup battery for the clock only for continuing the clock operation of the main body 1, and increases the installation space for parts inside the main body at least for the clock battery, and frequently resets time information. Since there is no need, the operability and convenience of the apparatus main body can be improved by simplifying or omitting the clock setting switch of the main body.
[0012]
Note that the portable information device configured as shown in FIG. 1 includes a computer device such as a notebook personal computer or palmtop personal computer, an information communication device such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a VTR camera, an electronic still camera, or the like. There are electronic video equipment. As the secondary battery, a rechargeable battery such as a nickel cadmium battery, a lithium ion battery, or a nickel metal hydride battery can be used. As a nonvolatile memory, a FLASH memory, a FRAM (ferroelectric memory), an EEPROM, or the like. A semiconductor memory such as can be used. Further, the data transmitted via the wirings L3 and L1 includes time information such as the current time including the date, data such as the charging state and the number of times of charging, and the operation state displayed on the display unit 1c of the main body 1 is the date. There are time information such as current time, operation mode such as reproduction and recording, power supply voltage state, and the like, and the display unit 2c of the charger 2 displays time information and a charge state.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a case where the system configuration of the portable information device of FIG. 1 is applied to a VTR camera such as a VHS. A power supply unit (battery pack) 3 that is separable from the main body 1e and has a timekeeping section and a plurality of secondary battery sections, and a main body 1e are provided separately from each other, and a display 2e made of liquid crystal on the upper surface and time setting It shows a state in which the battery charger 2d includes a setting unit 2f provided with a switch and the like. The charger 2d is provided with a plurality of electrodes 2g for charging and data transmission, and electrodes 3g and 1g are provided at portions corresponding to the electrodes 2g of the power supply unit 3 and the main body 1e, respectively. Yes.
[0014]
With such a configuration, if the power supply unit 3 is installed at a predetermined place of the charger 2d and the time setting of the clock unit is completed by the operation of the setting unit 2f, the electrode 2g of the charger 2d and the electrode 3g of the power supply unit 3 Since the circuit is formed in contact with the secondary battery unit, the charging operation of the secondary battery unit is performed, and when the power supply voltage of the secondary battery unit exceeds a predetermined voltage value, data such as time information is counted. Is transmitted to the unit at least once, and the power source unit 3 continues to measure time. After that, if the charged power supply unit 3 is removed from the charger 2d and incorporated in a predetermined place of the main body 1e, a plurality of electrodes 3g of the power supply unit 3 and a plurality of electrodes 1g of the main body 1e come into contact with each other to form a circuit. As a result, time information and the like are transmitted to the main body 1e and time measurement is continued. That is, when the main body 1e is operable, an accurate time based on the time information set by the charger 2d can be used at any time. In addition, since the setting unit 2f can be formed so that each switch and the like can be used only for time setting, the time setting work is easier and simpler than the time setting on the main body 1e. Can do. The charger 2d can be used as a clock or a timer device when the power supply unit 3 is not charged.
[0015]
FIG. 3 shows another system configuration example of the portable information device according to the present invention, in order to charge a main body 4 having a rechargeable secondary battery part 4e and a secondary battery part 4e provided separately from the main body 4. This shows a system 10b of a portable information device such as a PHS, a cellular phone, and a car phone, which is composed of a charger 2 '.
Each part will be described in more detail. The main body 4 includes a control circuit section 4a having a circuit for receiving time information together with a circuit for controlling the operation thereof, and a secondary battery section comprising a secondary battery for charging the main body 4 with necessary power. 4e, a power supply control unit 4b for supplying power from the secondary battery unit 4e and supplying a power supply voltage necessary for other circuits or monitoring the power supply voltage, and a signal from the control circuit unit 4a And a display unit 4d for displaying information such as an operation state and a clock, and a memory unit 4c including a nonvolatile memory for storing data such as an operation state via the control circuit unit 4a. Further, a charger 2 'having the same configuration as that of FIG. 1 includes a charging control unit 2b' for performing charging control of the secondary battery unit 4e, and a clock having a timepiece and calendar function and performing time setting work thereof. It comprises a part 2a 'and a display part 2c' for displaying time and the like in accordance with a signal from the clock part 2a '.
[0016]
With such a configuration, first, the charging operation of the secondary battery unit 4e is controlled by the charge control unit 2b 'via the wiring L6 by attaching the main body 4 to the charger 2', and the secondary battery unit 4e is predetermined. The time information of the clock control unit 2a ′ is transmitted to the control circuit unit 4a at least once by serial communication via the wiring L5 after being charged to a voltage higher than or equal to the voltage of the control circuit unit 4a. Since the clocking operation continues, accurate time information can be used anytime thereafter.
[0017]
Note that the configuration of the portable information device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the timepiece setting and display function in which the charging control unit 2b 'is removed from the charger 2' of FIG. A clock device that has only the function of data transmission is provided separately from the main body of the information device and the charger, and the time information is controlled by using the clock device when the power source of the main body is at a usable voltage. It may be transmitted to the circuit unit by wireless communication such as infrared communication or serial communication by connecting a connector.
[0018]
Further, the main body may be provided with a display device without providing a display device, or may be notified by voice, using a connector for each electrode shown in FIG. 2, or supplied by radio waves including power supply. In addition to the liquid crystal, an LED or an FL tube may be used as an indicator of the charger. The circuit of the timepiece unit may have a general timepiece circuit configuration, and a general oscillation circuit using a crystal resonator or a ceramic resonator may be used as a clock oscillator for each device. A similar system can be configured even when a magnetic storage device such as an HDD or FDD is used as a storage device of a portable information device instead of a semiconductor storage device. The charging method of the charging control unit of the charger may be any method such as a control method based on temperature or time in addition to the -ΔV method.
[0019]
Furthermore, with the same configuration, not only the time data such as the current time and the state data such as the charging state, but also the data of additional functions such as the world clock, calendar, reservation time, etc. provided according to the use of the main body other than the main body Data may be transferred to the main body after setting. Needless to say, conventional functions such as a resume function of a notebook personal computer can be used in the same manner as in the prior art even in the configuration of the present invention.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the configuration of the portable information device of the present invention, the clock battery for continuing the clock operation of the information device is unnecessary, so at least the battery for the clock is a component of the internal part of the main body. There is an effect that the installation space increases. In addition, since it is not necessary to reset time information frequently on the main body of the information apparatus, the operability and convenience of the apparatus main body can be improved by simplifying or omitting the clock setting switch of the main body. In addition, there is an effect that it can be used without worrying about the time setting whenever the voltage of the power supply unit is usable.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a system configuration of a portable information device of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a system configuration of the portable information device of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing another system configuration of the portable information device of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Portable information device (main body)
2: Charger 3: Power supply (battery pack)

Claims (4)

A portable information device main body having a clock function, a power supply unit having a secondary battery that is separable from the information device main body and serving as a power source thereof, and charging the power supply unit provided separately from the information device main body In a portable information device having a charger for
The charger has a clock unit capable of setting time, and when charging the power supply unit with the charger, time information of the clock unit is transmitted to the power supply unit, and the power supply unit is connected to the information device main body. The portable information device is characterized in that after the time information updated by the power supply unit when it is attached to the information device is transmitted to the information device main body, the time update is continued in the information device main body. Portable information device having a power supply unit having a rechargeable secondary battery and a portable information device main body having a clock function, and a charger provided separately from the information device main body for charging the power supply unit In the device
The charger has a clock unit capable of setting a time, and when the power supply unit of the information device main body is charged by the charger, the secondary battery is charged to a voltage usable by the power supply unit of the main body. The portable information device is characterized in that after the data including the time information of the clock unit is transmitted to the information device body, the time update is continued in the information device body. The information device body has a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a portable information apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that storing data between time usage and. A battery charger provided separately from the portable information device to charge the power supply unit of the portable information device having a rechargeable secondary battery and a clock function,
The charger has a clock unit capable of setting time, and when the power source unit is charged, the time of the clock unit after the secondary battery is charged to a voltage that can be used by the power source unit of the main body. It has a circuit for serial communication or wireless communication for allowing time update to be continued in the information device main body after transmitting data including information directly to the portable information device or via the power supply unit. And charger.

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